Motorized surfboard



Dec. 2, 1969 c. R. TATE ETAL 3,481,303

MOTORIZED SURFBOARD Filed May 31, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/GI/ INVENTORS CHARLES R TATE GEORGE M. WELLS A TTOR/VEKS Dec. 2, 1969 c. R. TATE ETAL 3,481,303

MOTORIZED SURFBOARD Filed May 31, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO/PS CHARLfS R. 73.47"! GEORGE M. WELLS W flag-m4:

A TTOR/VEVS United States Patent US. Cl. 115-70 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A motorized jet-operated surfboard is disclosed and having a length of about seven feet. The surfboard is designed for use on water where waves are insufficient for normal surfboard operation, such as on lakes, ponds, seashore, etc. An adjustable handle is pivotably mounted at the bow of a hull which is filled with foam plastic. A user stands on the hull and controls speed and direction by manipulating actuators on the handle. The position and location of stance affects the horizontal disposition of the hull and therefore introduces an element of skill in operation of the surfboard. The power plant is enclosed for purposes of safety to bathers.

The present invention is directed to 'a motorized jetoperated surfboard. The surfboard preferably has a length of about seven feet so that it may sit in a standard station wagon. The surfboard has a weight of about ninety pounds. Recesses are provided on opposite sides of the hull so that two persons may lift and carry the same.

The surfboard is provided with a generally flat hull constructed from an outer skin of a tough, high impact strength material filled with a foam plastic material. An adjustable handle is pivotably connected to the bow and extends rearwardly to a location wherein it may be grasped by a person standing between the middle of the hull and the stern.

A motor is supported by the hull adjacent the stern. The motor operates a propeller which is disposed in a flow passage in the hull. The flow passage communicates through the bottom of the hull and exits through the transom. A movable nozzle is connected to the exit of the flow passage. Adjustable means are provided on the handle for selectively controlling the speed of the motor as well as the direction of the nozzle.

Guard means are provided at the inlet of the propeller passage so as to prevent floating objects from entering the passage and interfering with the propeller. In addition, the guard means provides a safety feature to bathers. Inadvertent introduction of a persons hand or fingers into the passage would cause damage to the bather. The guard means obviates such damage.

The surfboard has a hull which is generally flat. This also is a safety feature to bathers as well as to operation of the surfboard. Because of the flat shape of the hull, and particularly the flat surface on the hull adjacent the stern, the surfboard of the present invention was grounded by directing the same at the shoreline at a speed of twenty miles an hour. No damage was occasioned by such grounding.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel motorized surfboard.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a motorized surfboard for aquatic enjoyment where waves are not present or insufiicient for purposes of normal surfboard operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a motorized jet-operated surfboard which provides safety lin FIGURE 1.

ice

features in the event of a collision with the shoreline or bathers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a motorized jet-operated surfboard which requires skill in its operation.

It is another object to provide a motorized jet-operated surfboard which is of a size and weight that it may be easily manipulated while at the same time capable of obtaining speeds of twenty miles an hour and requiring skill in its operation.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of the present inventlon.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken through the power plant along the line 33 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4 4 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 77 FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 88 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 99 in FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is disclosed a motorized jet-operated surfboard of the present invention designated generally as 10. The surfboard 10 includes a hull made from an outer skin of tough high impact strength material. As illustrated, the hull includes a top skin 12 and a bottom skin 14 joined together by a strip 16.

The skins 12 and 14 are preferably made from a material such as an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin. Strip 16 is provided with grooves on its top and bottom surface which receive the skins 12 and 14 as shown more clearly in FIGURE 7. The skins 12 and 14 may be adhesively joined to the strip 16 by using an ethylene chloride solvent. It will be noted that the strip 16 is generally horizontally disposed and extends around the periphery of the hull.

The top skin 12 may be provided with a well 18. Any water that accumulates in the well 18 will flow out through the holes 20 at the transom or rear wall of the hull. A ridge 22 may be provided on the top skin 12 as shown more clearly in FIGURE 2 so as to define the forward area of the location 24 wherein the user should stand when operating the surfboard of the present inven tion. The hull is preferably filled with a lightweight foam polymeric plastic material 26. Preferably the material 26 is a foam polyurethane which is foamed in situ.

The power plant includes an internal combustion engine 28 supported within a well at the stern. The motor 28 is protected by a shield 30 through which the air intake 29 extends. Motor 28 may be provided with a snorkel exhaust pipe 32 so that discharge is below water level. A snorkel exhaust pipe is desirable when the motor is not provided with a muflier. In this regard, the noise associated with operating the surfboard will be substantially reduced since the discharge is below water level. The exhaust pipe 32 may extend over the transom or rear wall 34 of the hull or may extend therethrough.

The gas tank 36 is preferably disposed in the forward portion of the hull between the skins 12 and 14. Gas tank 36 is preferably located in position and connected by a conduit to the motor 28 before the foam material 26 is foamed in situ. The location of the tank 36 surrounded by the foam material 26 provides a safety feature against explosions and also provides for a weight balance of the entire hull for offsetting the tendency of the hull to raise out of the water during operation.

The motor 28 is connected through a gear box 38 to a propeller shaft 40 as shown more clearly in FIGURE 3. A propeller 42 is connected to the propeller shaft 40 and disposed within a cylindrical housing 44. The housing 44 has a contoured wall 48 merging downwardly to the bottom of the hull so as to define a rectangular inlet passage 46 which lies in a fiat horizontal plane. The housing 44 is connected at its forward end to the bottom skin 14 with fairing 50 being provided. At its rearward end, the housing 44 is provided with a flange 52 bolted to the transom 34.

The inlet passage 46 is provided with a guard means in the form of longitudinally extending rods 47 as shown more clearly in FIGURE 6. The rods 47 prevent objects from entering the flow passage 43 and prevent fingers or hands from entering the flow passage wherein they could be damaged by contact with the propeller 42. The exit of the flow passage 43 communicates with a cylindrical portion on a bowl 54. Bowl 54 has its cylindrical portion bolted to the rear face of the housing 44.

A rotatable jet discharge nozzle 56 is rotatably supported by the bowl 54 for rotation about the axis of shaft 58. Shaft 58 extends through a boss 62 on the bowl 54. A pin 60 is fixedly secured to the shaft 58 and extends toward the transom 34 between a pair of arms 64 on a sleeve 66.

Sleeve 66 surrounds shaft 68. The righthand end of shaft 68 is rotatably supported in a bearing on boss 62. The lefthand end of shaft 68 is fixedly secured to an actuator arm 70 which extends upwardly toward the upper surface of the surfboard. See FIGURES 2-4.

As shown more clearly in FIGURE 2, the arm 70 is biased to an upright vertical disposition by a spring 72. Arm 70 may be moved to the right or to the left so as to effect rotation of shaft 68 by means of a flexible member 74. Member 74 may be in the form of a wire actuator.

A handle assembly designated generally as 78 is provided. The handle assembly 78 is pivotably secured to the hull adjacent the bow thereof. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 2, the handle assembly 78 includes a first leg 80 and a second leg 82 connected together by a crossbar 88. Each leg is pivotably connected to a bracket by a rivet 84. See FIGURE 8. Each bracket is connected to a block of wood 86 below the top skin 12. The handle assembly 78 pivots about an axis which is perpendicular to the centerline of the surfboard.

The handle assembly 78 includes an extension portion having legs 92 and 94 connected at one end to a crossbar 94. The other end of leg 93 is connected to leg 80 by an extension tube 91. The other end of leg 92 is connected to leg 82 by an extension tube 90. Since the extension tubes are identical, only the relationship between tube 90 and leg 92 is illustrated in detail.

As shown more clearly in FIGURE 9, the leg 92 is telescoped into the extension tube 90. Leg 92 is provided with a spring biased pin 96 adapted to extend through one of a plurality of holes 97 in tube 90. In this manner, crossbar 94 may be adjusted toward and away from crossbar 80 so that the overall length of the handle assembly may be adjusted to compensate for different sized users.

An actuator lever 98 is mounted on the cross bar 94 and connected to the flexible member 74. Movement of the lever 98 in opposite directions will rotate the sleeve 66 in opposite directions. As sleeve 68 rotates, arms 64 engage pin 60 to rotate the nozzle 56. Hence, movement of lever 98 controls the direction of the nozzle 56 to control the direction of movement of the surfboard. When lever 98 is in a neutral position, the nozzle 56 is in a neutral position. Flexible member 74 is preferably provided with a waterproof casing 99 which extends downwardly along the handle assembly, into the hull of the surfboard so as to be concealed from a location adjacent the pivot point for the handle assembly 78.

An actuating lever 100 is supported by the crossbar 94 and connected to the throttle on the motor 28 by means of a flexible member 102 which may also be a wire member. Member 102 is also provided with a waterproof flexible casing 104 and likewise enters the hull adjacent the how so as to be concealed. Lever actuator 100 is spring-biased to a neutral idling position and thereby provides the effect of a dead man throttle. Hence, if the user should accidentally fall off the surfboard 10, the surfboard will automatically stop since the idle position for the motor 28 is insufiicient for causing a propelling movement for the surfboard.

Each of the actuating levers 98 and 100 is supported by the crossbar 94 in a convenient area whereby the user may manipulate the same without letting go of the handle assembly 78. The handle assembly 78 will assume a position overlying the top skin 12 and must be manually pivoted to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1. The actual standing position of the operator introduces an element of skill in use of the surfboard 10. The position of the operator effects the weight balance and contributes to attaining high speeds. A normal operating speed may be attained without or with minimum skill.

The surfboard 10 has a weight of approximately 90 pounds and a length of approximately 7 feet. Hence, the surfboard 10 may be easily carried by two persons and may fit within the rear of a standard station wagon. To facilitate carrying the surfboard 10, recess or pockets 106 and 108 are provided on opposite sides of the hull as shown more clearly in FIGURE 1. When being carried by two persons having their hands in the recesses 106 and 108, the surfboard 10 will be supported in a generally horizontal position.

Each of the flexible actuator members 74 and 102, and their respective casings, are provided with a loop so as to accommodate extensions of the handle assembly. For example, see FIGURE 1. Fuel is introduced into tank 36 by opening the cap 110 mounted on the top skin 12. The motor 28 is preferably provided with a conventional fuel pump to cause flow of the fuel from tank 36 to the carburetor on motor 28.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof.

We claim:

1. A motorized surfboard comprising a generally flat hull, said hull comprising top and bottom skins of tough high impact strength material joined together along their peripheries, and said hull being filled with foam plastic material, a handle of rigid material pivotably connected to the bow of the hull for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hull, said handle extending to a position so that it may be grasped by a person standing on top of the middle portion of the hull, a power plant supported by the hull, said power plant including a water flow passage communicating at its inlet end with the bottom of said hull, a movable nozzle in said passage for controlling the direction of movement of the hull, a propeller in said passage for directing water through said nozzle, guard means at the inlet end of said passage to prevent entry of objects into said passage, a motor coupled to said propeller, a fuel tank disposed within said 5 6 hull adjacent the bow, selectively adjustable means on said References Cited handle fOl' manually controlling the speed Of said motor UNITED STATES PATENTS and the direction of said nozzle, and actuating means 3,165,087 1/1965 Stevens et a1 11570 coupling said selectively ad ustable means with sald motor 3,369,518 2/1968 Jacobson and said nozzle, portions of said actuating means extend- 5 ing through said hull. TRYGVE M. BLIX, Primary Examiner 

